Can I increase flow rate on wet/dry with hob overflow?

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dianas

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 16, 2009
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Milton, FL
Everyone on here has been so helpful so I'm hoping you can shed some light on this:

Picking up my first 120g tank that has a wet/dry. The pump is a Mag 5 (i'm told its a 500gph flow rate) The tank is not drilled, has a hob overflow box. I know I need to have around 1200gph filtration for the tank (esp. since I'm going to stock Cichlids) Other filters I have and could use include: 2 AC110's, and a Fluval 204.

Is it even possible to get another pump that has a bigger flow rate for the wet/dry I have? Can a hob overflow box even handle more than 500gph?

I know I can add both AC110's in addtion to the wet/dry but was unsure if they would be noisey?

As a last option, I even thought about buying an additional canister (fx3, or cascade 1500).

Any thoughts on what would be the best combo? Appreciate any input. :)
 
HOB Overflows have a GPH rating that they can handle. You need to know this, to know what GPH in your sump pump, that you can use. Some HOB overflows can handle more than 2000 GPH.

HOB filters are good in combination with a sump, because your water level always remains the same height in tank. So the water does not evaporate causing the Aquaclear to have a noisy waterfall sound.

Are you thinking of a rena XP3 or a Fluval FX5? I don't think there is any filter called the FX3. :)
 
(giggle) yes I meant the XP3. . .first day with the new brain. I was also thinking of the cascade 1500. If I need another filter at all.

How do I know what my hob overflow can handle. . . if the person I'm getting the tank from doesn't kow how can I figure it out? If I can't jack up the flow rate with another pump, am I better off with the AC110's vs a canister?
 
dianas;2982063; said:
(giggle) yes I meant the XP3. . .first day with the new brain.
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And how's that working for you :P
dianas;2982063; said:
How do I know what my hob overflow can handle. . . if the person I'm getting the tank from doesn't kow how can I figure it out? If I can't jack up the flow rate with another pump, am I better off with the AC110's vs a canister?
Click to expand...
Some overflows will have it written on them. If any Acrylic Builders who make overflows read this thread, PLEASE MARK YOUR OVERFLOWS FOR THEIR GPH RATING. The only way to figure it out, would be to use various pumps with various GPH and wait until the tank overflows. It may take a bit of time before the water accumulates enough to overflow, but its the only way really.

There is no better of the two. AC110s are a great filter imo. They are simple, easy to do frequent regular matenance, and turn over a lot of water for a HOB filter. I would say that if you already own two of them, not to be spending any money on a new Canister.

Run the sump with Filter Floss, a sponge, and then as much Biological Media as you can pack in. If you can't raise the GPH, it isn't too much of a problem. So use your sump for Biological, and your two AC110s for Mechanical & Chemical media such as a Sponge and Carbon, etc.
 
I will. Tank will be here 2moro. Just need to figure out how to set up the wet/dry. . .I'm pretty clueless right now. Been watching videos on youtube about wet/dry, sumps and installation. Seems pretty straight foward, but I just don't want it to overflow and flood the house. Not sure how much water to put in the sump or the overflow box. . .guess I'll be posting a lot more questions. Since the tank and wet/dry are used it doesn't really come with "directions" ;)
 
10x water turnover is definitely NOT necessary for a wet/dry to effectively filter a tank. Three to four times an hour is fine for bio-filtration.

Regarding overflow capacity, most standard tanks are drilled with 1" drains. Each 1" drain can handle up to 600 gph.
 
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